Retractable and expansible inside screen for windows



Feb. 8, 1944. A DAVIS 2,341,023

RETRACTIBLE AND EXPANSIBLE INSIDE SCREENS FOR wmnows Original Filed Aug. 30, 1941 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 3935 aE L IN VEN TOR. ALBERT 5 DA ws ATTORNEYS RETRACTIBLE' AND EXPANSIBLE INSIDE SCREENS FOR WINDOWS Original Filed Aug. 30, 1941 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 BY A: 65/67": DAV/:5 V f fmfw Patented Feb. 8, 194-4 '1;

RETRACTABLE AND EXPANSIBLE INSIDE SCREEN FOR- WINDOWS AlbertE. Davis, New York, N. Y.

Original application 408,967. Divided and 1943, Serial No. 496,860

4 Claims. (01. 160-183) This invention relates to window screens of the type which extend transversely across a window and which protrude inwardly thereof, the same being a division of my copending application Serial No. 408,967 filed August 30, 1941 issued Nov. 16, 1943, as Patent 2,334,482.

The invention has in View a Window screen which when not in use is disposed in retracted relation at one side of the window so as to afford an unobstructed View therethrough and which is adapted to be extended from said retracted relation'to a position disposed in front of the Window and projecting inwardly therefrom in spaced relation thereto so as to provide a shield for diffusing the light and for deflecting the air entering the room through the window.

The invention more particularly provides a window screen including means aflixed to the opposite sides of a window and extending inwardly in bowed formation in front thereof for guidedly mounting the screen for movement from aretracted position at one side thereof to an extended position transversely of the Window and for supporting the same in an inwardly bowed condition in spaced relation thereto.

More specifically, the invention is directed to a screen of the indicated character which is of the Venetian blind type includingvertically disposed slidable and swingable slats moveable to closed or relatively opened relations to each other when the screen is in extended active position.

With the above recited and other objects in view, the invention is set forth in greater detail in the following specification, particularly pointed out in the appended claims and illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which:

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of an inside window screen constructed in accordance with the invention and illustrating the same in applied position to a window with the screen body in extended position and with the slats in closed overlapping relation to each other.

Fig. 2 is a horizontal sectional view therethrough taken approximately on the line 2-2 of Fig. 1.

Fig, 3 is an enlarged fragmentary top plan view thereof illustrating the screen body in extended condition with the slats in opened relation.

Fig. 4, is a transverse sectional view taken approximately on the line 4-4 of Fig. 3.

Fig. 5 is a fragmentary transverse sectional View taken approximately on the line 5-5 of Fig. 3.

Fig. 6 is a fragmentary transverse sectional August 30, 1941, Serial No. this application July 31,

view taken approximately on the line 6-6 of- Fig. 5 and illustrating a slat in opened position. Fig. 7 is a similar view illustrating a slat in closed position.

Fig. 8 is a fragmentary top plan view illustrating several of the slats in retracted position.

Referring to the drawings by characters of reference the screen which is of the Venetian blind type includes a screen body consisting of vertically disposed end slats 29 and 30 which-are pivoted to turn on vertical axes and a plurality of relatively slidable intermediate slats 3| flexibly connected to each other and to the end slats 29 and 30 at the opposite vertical edges thereof by means of inner and outer flexible elements or tapes 32 and 33. The end slats are provided with upwardly and downwardly projecting trunnions 34 and 35 and the trunnions of the end slat 30 are journaled in apertured bearing brackets 36 secured to one side of the window frame so as to mount said slat for turning movement on a vertical axis while holding the same against sliding movement with reference to the window. The sole supporting means for the intermediate slats 3| consists of normally straight resilient upper and lower straps 31 and 38, the opposite terminals of which are engaged within the sockets 39 of brackets 4!] secured to the opposite sides of the window and which straps when in applied position extend inwardly in a bowed or offset formation. The straps 31 and 38 extend freely through slots 4| in the end slats 29 and 30 and through corresponding slots 42 in the intermediate slats 3|.

As illustrated, the slots 4| and 42 are defined by oblique opposite substantially parallel side walls 43, the adjacent inner edges 44 of which are spaced apart in the direction of the width of the slats a. distance slightly greater than the thickness of the straps 31 and 38.

The upwardly and downwardly projecting trunnions 34 and 35 of the end slat 29 are adapted to be engaged in notches 45 in bearing brackets 46 secured to the side of the window frame opposite to which the bearing brackets 36 are secured. By supporting the slats 29 and 3| in the manner thus described, the same may be slidably moved along the straps 31 and 38 from a collapsed nested relation adjacent the fixed end slat 30, to an extended opened relation as shown in full lines in Fig. 3 and by virtue of the construction and arrangement of the slots 4| and 42, the slats may be swung to closed overlapping relation as illustrated in Figs. 1 and 2'.

The connecting tapes 32 and 33 when the screen body is disposed and secured in an extended position by engagement of the trunnions in the notches 45 of the bearing brackets 46, function to automatically space the slats equidistantly with reference to each other and by turning any one of the slats, the tapes operate to effect simultaneous turning movement of all the salts to an opened relation or to a closed overlapping relation. The construction of the slots 4| and 42 permits of the turning of the slats from a substantially right angular open relation as shownin Figs. 3 and 6 to the acute angular closed relation as shown in Figs. 1, 2 and '7 and the spacing of the adjacent inner edges 44 of the slots serves to dispose the slats transversely centralized with reference to the straps 31 and 38.

From the foregoing it will thus be seen that a screen body of the Venetian blind type has been devised which may be extended laterally in front of the inside of the window in bowed formation with reference thereto and in which the slats may be disposed either in opened or closed relation.

The screen thus provided affords the desired ventilation, for the room while at the same time forming a shield against direct drafts and preventing the ingress of a large proportion of the dust and soot in the air and which insures privacy by obstructing a direct view of the room and produces a softness of the light entering therethrough. The screen furthermore protects shades, draperies and curtains which may be hung at the window, preventing the same from being drawn outwardly through the open window and the screen being capable of being manufactured at reasonable cost, it is therefore economical and a practical means to be positioned in front of the window for such purposes.

What is claimed is:

1. In an inside screen for windows, a screen body including transversely spaced vertically arranged slats flexibly connected together for movement from a retracted side by side relation to an extended overlapping edge to edge relation and having aligned openings through the slats adjacent their opposite ends, and inwardly bowed vertically spaced frame members airlxed in front of the window to extend transverselythereof and said frame members respectively extending through the aligned openings in the slats to thereby slidably mount the screen for movement thereof from said retracted relation to said exspectively extending through said openings to thereby mount the screen for slidable and pivotal movement of the slats on said frame members when: the screen, is moved from said retracted relation to said extended relation projecting in- I wardly in bowed formation in front of the window.

3. In an inside screen for windows, a screen body including a plurality of vertically disposed slats having pairs of oblique openings adjacent the upper and lower ends thereof, pairs of flexible tapes connected respectively with each of the opposite edges thereof to equidistantly space the slats apart slightly less than the width of the slats when the screen body is extended, a pair of resilient supporting straps extending respectively through the pairs of oblique openings in the slats means for anchoring the opposite ends of the supporting straps to opposite sides of the window in bowed formation extending inwardly from the window and mounting the screen body thereon, and interengageable means secured to opposite sides of the window and on the endmost slats for fixedly journalling the same for turning movement on vertical axes and for retaining the screen body in extended condition while permitting the turning of the slats from an: opened relation to a closed overlapping relation.

4. An inside screen for windows including an extensible and contractible screen body composed of vertically disposed slats connected for simultaneous opening and closing movement and means for mounting said body to extend in inwardly bowed formation from the window and to permit of. sliding movement of the body laterally from a contracted condition adjacent one side of the window to an extended, condition disposed across the window- ALBERT E. DAVIS. 

